18th April 2009

Plaque Unveiled in Honour of WW11 Pilot

Site of original grave for F/O Gerald Conroy in Merbitz showing plaque in his honour.	Taking part in the unveiling of the plaque were, from left: Alex Morrison; Dietrich Schulze, Burgermeister of Merbitz area; Elizabeth McMichael; Michael Leiberich, German researcher and Colonel Tony Battista, Military Attache at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin.

By Alex Morrison

Elizabeth McMichael, accompanied by her husband Alex Morrison unveiled a plaque in the German village of Merbitz in honour of her uncle Flying Officer Gerald Conroy of 429 Squadron RCAF. Elizabeth and Alex, a member of RUSI/NS had travelled to Germany for the unveiling on March 24; the plaque was brought from Canada.

Conroy, from Middle Stewiacke, NS was the pilot of a Halifax bomber that had just completed its mission over Berlin in March, 1944; it was the last major Allied raid on that city during WW11. The crew was heading back to its base at RAF Station Leeming in Yorkshire when, it has been determined with a great degree of probability, Hauptmann (Capt) Heinz Roekker, a German nightfighter pilot fired shots from below that severed the starboard wing that then crashed into
the nose and cockpit of the Halifax. Conroy stayed with his plane and kept it under control so that his crew could bail out successfully. He gave his life for his country and his crew mates.

F/O Conroy’s original grave was in Merbitz and in 1947 his remains were removed to the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Berlin.

Elizabeth and Alex are writing a book on the life and times of Gerald Conroy entitled, “On Our Behalf,” due to be published in 2010.